Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering for NASA?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the choice between pursuing mechanical engineering or mechatronics engineering, particularly in relation to potential career opportunities at NASA and other engineering firms. Participants explore the implications of these fields in building machines and technology, with a focus on the aerospace sector.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a strong interest in building things and a love for physics and math, seeking guidance on career choices.
  • Another participant questions the relevance of NASA, suggesting that many companies engage in similar engineering work, including defense and aeronautics.
  • A participant mentions that NASA employs a wide range of engineers and scientists, including mechanical engineers, aerospace engineers, and physicists, indicating diverse career paths within the organization.
  • There is a humorous exchange about the nature of work at NASA, with one participant noting that some tasks are contracted out, highlighting the varied roles within the agency.
  • A participant with a background in physics and software development inquires about options for international students, indicating a broader interest in engineering careers.
  • One participant suggests that mechanical engineering may offer more widespread opportunities compared to mechatronics, contemplating a sequential approach to education in these fields.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the superiority of one engineering discipline over the other, and multiple views on career paths and opportunities at NASA and similar organizations remain present.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the specific career paths available and the implications of choosing between mechanical and mechatronics engineering. There are also references to the employment structure at NASA, including distinctions between civil servants and contractors, which may influence career decisions.

Who May Find This Useful

High school students considering engineering careers, particularly those interested in aerospace and technology, as well as international students exploring educational opportunities in engineering fields.

AlexES16
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I was thinking in mechanical engineering or mechatronic engineering, i really want to build things and love physics and math. I only left 4 months to choose career, some lights please.
 
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Are you in high school and deciding which university course to apply to or...?

If so, why is NASA mentioned? There are many companies for engineers building the sort of things you might imagine happen at NASA, not least of all defence and aeronautic companies.

You could also think about aeronautical engineering.
 
fasterthanjoao said:
Are you in high school and deciding which university course to apply to or...?

If so, why is NASA mentioned? There are many companies for engineers building the sort of things you might imagine happen at NASA, not least of all defence and aeronautic companies.

You could also think about aeronautical engineering.

Well i mentioned NASA becouse of the space ships, robots and stuff like that, but you say there are many companies that make this kind of things. I am in my last year of high school and deciding for a career in which you learn how to build machines and stuff like that. In october i have to make the exam for entering the University, and I am watching careers like mechanical/mechatronic.
 
Any one knows?
 
If you are thinking about doing mechanical engineering, you would potentially have opportunities pretty much anywhere, including NASA. I definitely recommend engineering if you are interested in any sort of technical job in industry or any job at a tech oriented organization.
 
Ability to count backwards from 10?

Actually according to a friend at Nasa, that is contracted out !
 
mgb_phys said:
Ability to count backwards from 10?

Actually according to a friend at Nasa, that is contracted out !

This is both funny and true!

Regarding the original post: NASA uses all sorts of different careers. NASA does a very large and varied number of things and needs as many different types of engineers and scientists as required. The group I work in has Mathematicians (all applied math), Physicists (mostly nuclear but a few who come from high energy phenomenology) and Nuclear Engineers. All the researchers in our group have PhDs. This is not always the case. The other major groups in our branch (who do decidedly different research) are mainly aerospace engineers, mechanical engineers, material scientists and applied physicists.

You can get a glimpse into some of the research done at the center I work at here: http://researchtech.larc.nasa.gov/resrch_area/index.htm

One thing to note here is that I am including both civil servants and contractors/grantees here. There are a lot more contractors/grantees than civil servants (a civil servant is an actual NASA employee, while a contractor or grantee is someone who holds a contract or a grant funded by NASA but works for a different company or institution). NASA was (is?) moving to having research be largely performed by contractors/grantees. There has been talk recently (last few years) about reversing this trend, but there has not been a lot of movement on that front that I have seen.
 
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@ Norman...
can u pls ellaborate over such options for international students?i hve done masters in physics and a research prjct in nuclear physics as well..nw m wrkin as a software developer in an IT company...
 
Thank you guys for the answers =). Looks like Mechanical Engineering is more spread than Mechatronics maybe i make first mechanical engineering and next Mechatronics?
 

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